Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Georgiana Darcy had a secret. There was a reason that she became outraged when George Wickham flirted with Kitty and Lydia Bennet.
It was the same reason that she had been relieved when her father invited him less frequently when they would be seeing the Bennet family.
It was also the reason that she did not mind being left behind with Mrs Younge when her father and Priscilla accompanied her brother to balls and assemblies.
Priscilla loathed Mrs Younge, but she did not know that the lady had quite a romantic, sympathetic nature.
She might not be fond of society, but then, nor was Fitz when Elizabeth was not there.
Spending time with the Bennets made poor Mrs Younge recall the noise and unkindness of the girls at school.
“Of course, I do not dislike them, dear, I only worry for your feelings if they hurt you. And your gentle, peaceful nature is so restful after the chaos of school. I enjoy it very much when it is just the two of us,” Mrs Younge insisted.
Priscilla did not like leaving Georgiana alone in the company of the companion when they went out at night, but Darcy Senior remained obstinate, for she was not properly out.
Sometimes, her father stayed home and sent Mrs Younge out with Fitz and Priscilla, then father and daughter would dine with George Wickham.
Other times…her father attended events with the others and George, aided by Mrs Younge, visited her anyway.
It was not easy. The housekeeper was vigilant around George.
Her father believed it was because the maids at Pemberley had always seen him as a target just as much as ladies in London did with Will.
As the son of the late steward and the godson of the master, Darcy Senior believed that any maid would be happy to point his godson out as the author of her misfortune in order to force a marriage.
On a few occasions, Mrs Younge announced that the summer was warm enough that they desired no supper besides a cold collation, laid out on the terrace where they might sit quietly by torchlight and serve themselves.
George would come from the gardens when the footmen left them and join them there.
Sometimes he would even share her plate with her.
Other times, Mrs Younge and Georgiana would announce a desire to take the night air, dismiss the footmen who waited upon Georgiana, and meet George out in the gardens, away from the house.
George would ask her questions about her friends and activities, tell her all about his military manoeuvres, then tease her as he always did.
It felt wonderful to have the attention and care of such a gentleman, even if he did have to hide from her brother.
Tonight, Georgiana was playing hide and seek in the garden with George and Mrs Younge, though Mrs Younge usually ended up finding some quiet bench to sit upon.
“It is true that your brother would be angry if he knew he was here, Miss Darcy, but as your father says, that is just jealousy speaking, and likely fear that your father will favour him far too much in his will.” Mrs Younge refused to accept that there was anything wrong with George.
“Your father loves the boy like a son, do you think he is so without guile that he would not see if he was a scoundrel? Your brother is a silly young man to think he knows anything your father does not. That is why Mr Darcy refuses to humour him. Your father knows better.”
She hid behind a statue, her heart pounding in her ears. Suddenly, she was seized from behind, then spun about to face the one who caught her.
Georgiana was breathless as she gazed up at George’s handsome profile in the moonlight. Finally, just as she hoped he would do, he bent down to kiss her. It was light and sweet at first, then turned deeper and rather more shocking.
Does everyone do that with their tongues? She wondered as he nuzzled her ear and sighed into her hair. Good heavens.
“Georgie,” he whispered low. “Do you love me?”
“More than anything, George,” she promised.
“Then you’ll marry me?” he asked, raising his head so that she could see his face properly.
“We couldn’t!” She was shocked. “Father still will not let me go to an assembly, let alone be married. He will make me bow before the queen first, and parade me about London, and still, I must wait two years even for that, though I am to be allowed out in Derbyshire when I turn seventeen.”
“We could!” he insisted. “If you love me enough, if you are brave enough, we could.”
“George, my brother would be furious!” she objected. “He would cause so much trouble, Papa could never bear it.”
“That is exactly why we must elope, my love.”
“Oh, George, we could never–”
“We could!” he exclaimed under his breath.
“Darling, you cannot believe that your father wishes for you to go through all that nonsense about a debut. It is all pressure from Lord and Lady Matlock and Lord Matlock’s arrogance about what should be expected of Lady Anne’s daughter.
Your father is not even well enough to accompany you in London.
The strain of it will kill him. You know I have his confidence.
He would never tell you, but he does not believe he will survive it. ”
“Oh! Poor Father!” she worried. “But Will’s rage would be terrible indeed, George.”
“That is why we must elope. If there is a chance your brother could prevent me from becoming even closer to your father and family, he will cause so much upheaval that your father would die of an attack of the heart. We all know how weak he is. He could never stand against Darcy, no matter what he truly wished for…but if we stole away…stole away quietly and came back married…the deed would be done, and there would be no undoing it. Darcy might be angry, but your father could use his inheritance to subdue him. Darcy would never risk losing Pemberley.”
“Father would never leave Pemberley to anyone but Will.” Georgiana was unsure.
“I grew up in the house of the steward, Georgie. Everything that has taken Darcy years to learn since university, I knew by the time I left for Eton. That is why he refused to go on a tour after Cambridge. He did not wish for your father to hire me to do my father’s job.
He knows that I can do everything that he can do, and he does not wish for your father to rely upon me. ”
“Oh…” Georgiana could not think. Such was the web her suitor spun around her.
“If we steal away and return married, everything will be well. There will be nothing Darcy can do about it. And he will not be able to bar me from the family any more. He will be angry, but he will get used to it. Your father will have to be allowed to enjoy my company as he has always wished to do. We will be able to help him just as much as your brother does.”
Georgiana’s mind raced as George continued on. “There will be nothing sordid, my love. We shall take Mrs Younge with us. That is her job, to protect your reputation with her company.”
That was enough for Georgiana. “I will,” she promised.
Thursday 30 July 1812
Elizabeth arrived at Darcy Cottage in Lady Barry’s carriage with Jane and Lydia, perhaps two hours after breakfast, prepared for a morning of advising Anne on fashion plates and hairstyles.
Kitty and Mary were accompanying Charlotte to stroll the assembly rooms and socialise with other ladies.
A wagon with trunks full of gowns had been delivered the day before from London, all Priscilla’s gowns from last season that could be very easily altered for Anne’s everyday use.
Anne could–and would–purchase a brand new wardrobe, but she would not do it all at once, and this would give her something to wear until she went to London to go shopping with her aunt.
The ladies entered Anne’s room to find fabric of every variety and colour everywhere.
Lydia was as enthusiastic as Anne, and began to show Anne some drawings she had made for her the evening before when the elder Bennets were at the assembly, and the two youngest girls were left at the cottage with Lucas, his nurse, and the other servants.
Elizabeth noticed that Georgiana was missing. When Priscilla did not know where her cousin was, she left them and went to her bedchamber to find her. Before she could knock, she heard Mrs Younge’s voice.
“No, you do not need to bring that one, Miss Darcy. Recall that you will be gone for perhaps just over a week. A few simple travelling gowns and an extra pair of slippers is all you need. Perhaps a pair of walking boots; I cannot think you will even use them. But they will be helpful if it rains.”
“Of course, you are correct. How kind you are to advise me, Mrs Younge.” Georgiana’s muffled voice could be heard through the door.
“You must bring as much pin money as you have, and any jewels you possess, in case they must be sold to pay for the journey.” Mrs Younge instructed.
“Poor Wickham has little funds of his own until your dowry is paid, but then you will both have all that you require to live fashionably, and they can be easily replaced.”
“I have some that my brother bought for me last year, but I must leave my mother’s jewels behind,” Georgiana said. “I know they are a small portion of what I will receive of hers after I am married, but I could not part with a single pearl if my mother wore it.”
“Now tomorrow night is Lady Arlington’s ball,” Mrs Younge said.
“Your family will be gone until very late. When they return, we shall already have retired, and then while your brother is out walking with that girl, your father and Priscilla will be sleeping in. By the time you are missed, we shall be miles up the coast, and Wickham will have left evidence of the two of you hiring a coach to Scotland to guide them out of the way.”
Elizabeth was shocked by what she heard. Georgie is planning to elope with Mr Wickham. How could she?